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Fantastic animation

Chicken Run is a hugely popular animated film which is often shown on TV. It was realeased in 2000 but is still watched a lot now in 2013.

The film is all about a group of chickens in an egg farm, they either lay eggs or are destined to become the farmers dinner. Ginger, one of the chickens, doesn't want this to happen so is always trying to come up with ways to escape their chicken coop. As the film continues, you see Mrs Tweedy, the farmer, convert an old barn into a pie making factory. When Ginger discovers this she does all she can to try and escape.

Rocky, a cockerel, crash lands in the chicken coop one day as he is fleeing the circus, along with him comes a poster which describes Rocky as the flying rooster. Naturally, Ginger tries to get Rocky on their side so that he can teach of group of chickens how to fly so that they can fly out of their chicken prison and into the free world. Can Rocky teach them to fly and escape before they all get turned into chicken pie?

The stand out part of this film is definitely the plasticine figures used like the Wallace and Gromit characters, hardly surprising since it is made by one of the people that made Wallace and Gromit too. Although the figures are made from the clay like material no detailing has been left out and each chicken has its own quirky ways, there is one that is always knitting and there is Ginger who wears a hat. The making most of took a long long time considering how much detail is involved and how well the film looks overall. My favourite scene has to be when Ginger is put into the chicken pie making machine and Rocky tries to help her, it is executed really well and looks exactly like what you would think the inside of one of these machines would be like.

The voices used match the individual characters brilliantly, some of the voice actors include Mel Gibson as Rocky, Julia Sawalha as Ginger and Miranda Richardson and Tony Haygarth as Mr & Mrs Tweedy. The music matches in with the storyline well with the songs helping tell the tale during the relevant scenes.

Chicken run keeps you gripped from the start and throughout the whole 84 minute running time. The story, although it sounds quite basic, is brilliantly executed and there are many laughs throughout the film. My nearly four year old daughter loves this film and so do I. I think it's one of those films that is suitable for anyone despite the age, whether it is young children or older grandparents, there is something for everyone and for that reason, I definitely think it is worth a watch.

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It's The Great Escape with Chickens. What's not to like?

It's very rare that you'll catch me anywhere near a U rated film. I like my cinematic entertainment darker, edgier and bloodier. On the other hand, I'm just a fan of good films, and Chicken Run falls firmly into that category, making it popular in the SWSt household.

Ginger is a chicken, trapped on a farm in cramped, miserable conditions and expected to lay egg after egg after egg for the farmer to sell. Let your egg-laying rate drop and it's a date with the oven for you. But Ginger isn't like other chickens; Ginger dreams of escape, not just for herself, but for every chicken on the farm. Will the mysterious Rocky the Flying Rooster be able to help make her dream a reality?

It's very clear where the Chicken Run gets its inspiration from: it's essentially The Great Escape but with chickens instead of Steve McQueen. In fairness, it makes no attempt to hide this fact and the brilliantly funny opening sequence showing Ginger's failed escape attempts openly riffs on the 60s classic. Yet to dismiss Chicken Run as just being this would be grossly unfair as there is so much more to it.

For a start, there are plenty of references to other films from Raiders of the Lost Ark through to Casablanca and film fans will have a whale of a time spotting these. Yet, it's also a proper film in its own right with its own (admittedly daft) plot, character progression (predictable, but none the worse for it) and style. It will keep you entertained and amused for its short (but entirely suitable) 84 minute run time and is such a lot of fun that it bears repeat watching.

Fun is the operative word here. Chicken Run is not meant to be deep or important; it's just meant to make you laugh - and that's something it's very good at. Despite some darker undertones in the (slightly flabby) middle section, it's a feel-good film that will have you laughing right from the start and will keep you laughing until the end credits role.

The great thing about Chicken Run is that it is a proper, old-fashioned family film that anyone can sit down and watch. Young children will enjoy the daft characters and slapstick elements, whilst there are plenty of in-jokes and more subtle humour for adults. The humour it employs is universal and it really is a film that has something for everyone. If you enjoy the slightly skewed humour that Aardman Animations used so successfully in the Wallace and Gromit adventures, then you will find Chicken Run equally amusing.

The Aardman connection is obvious from the start, with all the lovingly moulded plasticine models of chickens. This might be Aardman's most sophisticated film (the backing of Dreamworks meant a bigger budget and greater access to technology), but it still retains the old-fashioned charm of Wallace and Gromit and uses "proper" animation techniques, rather than relying on computers to do everything.

The craftsmanship just drips off the screen. Every creature has been lovingly sculpted and created as a character in their own right - there is no lazy use of the same character being duplicated to fill out crowd scenes. Each chicken has a genuine personality - not just in terms of their voice, but in terms of the way they look and behave; from the knitting, holiday obsessed Babs through to the determined and slightly scary Ginger. Again, if you're a fan of Wallace & Gromit, you'll know exactly what to expect - big eyes, toothy grins and exaggerated facial expressions which make the characters funny to look at as well as to listen to.

It's also a film that's well-voiced. Apart from Mel Gibson (adequate if unspectacular as the self-centred Rocky the Rooster), the cast list reads like a Who's Who of British actors with Julia Sawalha, Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels all lending their voices in perfectly judged performances. Their interpretations are perfectly suited to the plasticine piece you see on screen and a lot of thought has clearly gone into getting the right voice for the right character. Best of all are Jane Horrocks (a delight every time she opens her mouth, although her typecasting as thick northern bird (literally) is not exactly a stretch for her) and Miranda Richardson, who plays the devious Mrs Tweedy like an older, nastier version of her Queen Elizabeth I from Blackadder II.

If that wasn't enough, the film's finale is a genuinely tense and exciting affair which still manages to thrown in some humour. Sure, you know that ultimately there's going to be a happy ending, but it still throws in a few shocks along the way to keep you on the edge of your seat. Add to that some excellent, stirring music and you've got a real winner.

Aardman Animations are no strangers to Hollywood glory (with several Oscars under their belt), but Chicken Run really is one of their crowning glories. To take the formula that made both Creature Comforts and Wallace and Gromit so successful and blend them into a feature length animation for all ages is no mean feat. Yet, it's one they apparently achieve effortlessly.

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The Chicken Shawshank Redemption

I have been probably wanting to watch Chicken Run ever since it came out in the distant year of 2000. But, alas, I had an opportunity to watch it just now and the time limit on the BBC iPlayer was a good incentive to find some time and watch this animation.

But first the plot. It is almost all in the title, actually. Chickens live in Mrs. Tweedy's farm which is more like a concentration camp. They have to lay eggs regularly and those who don't do straight into Mrs. Tweedy's soup. The harsh realities of the farm, I have to say, are shown with a lot of honesty, although the scariest are reduced to just a chopping sound, but that sound says it all. Being typical chickens, most of the chickens do not mind this state of things and prefer the native farm to some vague dreams of the chicken paradise outside the fence. But, naturally, there is one chicken, Ginger, whose dream of freedom cannot be destroyed by any obstacles and previous failures. Especially when Heaven sends her a beautiful stranger - Rocky Rhodes, the flying rooster who escaped from the circus. Now Rocky becomes the hope of the chicken community and is expected to teach the chickens to fly. Which is as urgent as never before because Mrs. Tweedy decided to start a proper business and bought a chicken pie machine.

Right, now I can talk about my impressions. I loved this animation. It is absolutely brilliant compared to the later Flushed Away by the same authors and just as good as Wallace and Gromit. And, yes, the ears of Wallace and Gromit are popping up in every other shot, but it's not a bad thing, is it?

Ginger and Rocky, the main characters were, in a way, not as outstanding as some other chickens. Which is understandable: they carried the load of moving the plot and bringing some romance element into it. Other characters were not burdened with these important functions and thus just rocked. The nerdy chicken stood out quite well, but it's the RAF veteran Fowler who really sparkled. His total Britishness, from the accent to the Union Jack quilt, created perfect contrast (and often conflict) with Rocky's American style and kept the film going on the same cheerful level throughout. The rats were good as well.

Getting into my philosophical mood now, I can say that this animation definitely goes beyond just the humour level. Of course, we've seen these freedom ideas many times before and Chicken Run is a bit like a plasticine version of The Shawshank Redemption. Both Rocky and Ginger sometimes sound like professional inspiration gurus and even admit to saying what others expect to hear. Yet, the story forces them and all other chickens to move from words and time-wasting into action once freedom becomes a matter of "loaf and death". So, in a way, it's a journey out of procrastination. And with these chickens it's a funny one!

----NB: This review is mirrored in my blog on my personal website, www.artymind.com

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Side Splitting!!

Chicken Run (DVD)

Chicken Run is an absolute amazement. I never thought that I would like the film because it reminds me of Wallace and Gromit (which I dont like). I am so so glad that I actually watched it because it made me giggle from start to finish.

On Mrs Tweedy's farm in Yorkshire in the 1950's there are a group of chickens who are expected to lay a minimum amount of eggs per week. If not then off to the chopping block it is!!The farm is run like a military camp, and the chickens have had enough! Bold and brave Ginger decides that it is time for them to fly the nest, literally, to avoid being turned into Chicken Pie by the Tweedy's new money making machine.Many attepmpts including, disguises and tunnelling their way out have failed so it's back to the drawing board.The plan, is with the help of a rooster called Rocky (who can seemingly fly?), to learn to fly and take to the skies and get well away from the evil Tweedy's and their concentration camp style farm.All seems to be going to plan until it is seen Rocky trying to escape the farm, he is afraid that he will be found out that he cannot actually fly but is Rocky The Amazing Flying Rooster and has escaped the circus where he lives and has a daily life of being the star act, a rooster who is shot out of a cannon.Will the Chickens give up their escape bis or do they have a better plan in store.........................

This film makes me laugh harder everytime. I first watched it not too long ago with my daughter who is 5. We were lying on the couch and she was not well and was not at all impressed with me, I couldn't stop giggling and kept waking her up! I had to sit somewhere else to finish watching the rest!!My favourite part of the film is the line "I don't want to be a pie - I don't like gravy". Even now, I only have to see a chicken pie and cant contain myself!!My favourite scene is where the chickens are all trying to get fit by doing an aerobics session! It is madness, so so funny to watch.

This film is suitable for adults and children alike, it is guarenteed to make your sides ache! There are hours of watching time in this film because I assure you, you will not be able to watch it just the once!! Well worth the 4.99 on Amazon.

Amazing!!

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Chickens 1 Humans 0!

Chicken Run is an animated comedy set on a farm in 1950's Yorkshire. It tells the story of a group of chickens who are made to lay a certain number of eggs a week. If they don't meet this quota they find themselves on the chopping board. One particularly head-strong hen called Ginger thinks there is more to life than this and dreams of escaping to a better life. However, she has some trouble convincing the others, who are more set in their ways. The arrival of an American Rooster called Rocky, who appears to be able to fly gives Ginger an idea and she asks Rooster to teach them how to do so.

Soon the evil Mrs Tweedy and her gormless husband realise that laying eggs will not bring them riches and Mrs Tweedy hatches a plan to make them millions by investing in a pie machine. Ginger becomes the 'test case' for this new contraption but with the aid of Rocky manages to escape and realises their need to flee is more urgent than ever. Can Rocky teach them in time or will they have to take matters into their own hands?

I thought Chicken Run was hilarious! It was shot in the same style as Wallace and Grommit, with the plasticine type figures - not surprising really as it is made by the same people. The story was engaging, fast paced and at times quite exciting. There were jokes and gags aplenty. I loved the American- English banter and stereotypical distrust of the old colonel rooster of the newly arrived American Rocky, simply because he was a 'Yank'.

Two of the sequences really stood out for me. One was when the Chicken's were all in training in the yard. This was actually incredibly funny to watch as they huffed and puffed through their aerobics exercises and their first attempts to fly had me laughing out loud. The second sequence was when they were actually in the pie machine. This was so well done. It reminded me of being inside a fair ride where you sit in a boat (or in this case a pie) and things are going on around you. It was very detailed and captured the tension perfectly. I was at the edge of my seat wondering whether Ginger and Rocky would make it out alive.

Some of my favourite gags (it was hard to choose as there were so many!):

One of the chickens on learning about the evil pie plan:"But I don't want to become a pie. I don't like gravy!".

The animation has something for everyone. The story is not a simplistic children's tale and so will appeal to a wide audience. Children will love the animations and there are plenty of jokes to keep the adults amused. I do think that some of the scenes may be a bit disturbing for very young children and you may find that they'll be put off chicken for a while! The animation lasts for around 90 minutes and features the voices of some big names including Mel Gibson as Rocky. The animation was made in 2000 and won many awards and it's not hard to see why! If you missed it on telly over Christmas you can buy it on DVD, which on Amazon is priced at around £4.00. Highly recommended.

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A superb animation

Chicken Run is a classic animated film that was directed by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, under his Aardman Animations production company, and was a considerable hit upon its release with audiences and critics alike. It is animated in the now familiar "claymation" style that Park has helped become famous and quite charmingly retrograde, given its release several years after Pixar had arrived on the scene with their visually elaborate CGI productions.

The Tweedys run their farm in Yorkshire much like a POW camp of some sort, with the chickens who are nearing readiness to be butchered obviously quaking in their boots and resembling the soldiers and Jewish prisoners getting ready for extermination. Indeed, this is a spoof of The Great Escape, with the chickens mounting an attempt to escape a horrible fate, but it's also got plenty of its own charm and really works as a brisk and fun piece of animation.

After the initial panic, things get more interesting when Rocky Rhodes (Mel Gibson) shows up as a high-flying, exciting rebel, who most of the chickens have a great affinity with for his exotic charm and charisma, but he has injured himself flying in and so becomes just as vulneralbe as the rest of the chickens. Together, they must find a way to literally "fly the coup" or be doomed to become the main ingrediant of Mrs. Tweedy's chicken pies, which she is making the farm's leading product line after egg production simply doesn't make her enough money.

It's a shame that the Best Animation Oscar hadn't yet come into creation because this is a stunning and stellar film that's as well crafted as any of the Disney or Pixar films, with some cracking voice performances and a fun and knowing plot to boot.

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If you haven't ever seen it go watch it.

The chickens of Mrs Tweedys egg farm are faced with a dilema. Either learn to fly or be turned into chicken pie. Clearly Mrs Tweedy feels theres more profit to be made from chicken pie and sets about constructing a very elaborate Mousetrap style pie making contraption which would be worthy of a Wallace and Grommit film. No surprise then that the people behind Wallace and Grommit are also the genius behind Chicken Run.

The plasticine animation is fabulous, the expressions on the chickens faces are priceless. Most importantly the voiceovers are superbly matched to the characters, but thats hardly surprising when Mel Gibson voiced the swoon worthy Rocky the Rooster and Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) provided the vocals for dippy chicken Babs who has the best line in the entire film "I don't want to be a chicken pie... I don't like gravy".

The chickens set about attempting to escape from under Mrs Tweedys beady eye. The gates are firmly locked and guarded by a ferrocious dog so their only option is up, up and away although none of the chickens know how to fly. Clearly they need a cunning plan or two and theres no shortage of those.

Its the only animated film which has ever made me want to stand up in a cinema and applaud. Bravo. Its an all round outstanding film. The comedy appeals to both adults and children alike. The funny bits are all laugh out loud funny, theres not a flat joke anywhere in sight. Its full of drama, mayhem and the completely absurd. The animation is astoundingly good. The musical score fits perfectly and the ending is thrilling. Its not often you can say that about a kids film.

It might be 84 minutes long but the time seems to fly by. Even normally wriggly children seem to be captivated throughout. My children happily watch it again and again and so do I.

Available from Amazon for under a fiver.

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enjoyable and funny animated film

Introduction

From the same people that brought us the great Wallace and Gromit and also the television show Creature Comforts comes Chicken Run. This is a very good animated movie and is great fun for all the family be it young or old. It was originally released back in 2000. The film can be classed as a comedy escape type drama.

Plot

The film involves the characters of Ginger, Bunty, Babs and Fowler who are chickens trapped on a farm and they desperately want to escape. If they don't produce any eggs for the week, Mr and Mrs Tweedy will have them killed. After every attempt, they fail and their time is running out. When it seems like all their attempts have failed, an American rooster called Rocky (Mel Gibson) falls into the farm. After seeing Rocky fly, Ginger realises that the only way out now, is by flying. The chickens must learn the trade of flying before time runs outs. Rocky and Ginger lead their fellow chickens in a great escape plan to take them away from the murderous farmers and their eventual doom.

Opinion

Chicken Run is a wonderfully crafted and entertaining movie which the whole family can enjoy. Children will love the idea of chickens doing absurd things and coming up with funny one-liners. Adults will enjoy the humourous dialogue and the sweet, engaging story. The movie connections are probably multiple most notably 'The Great Escape.'

Aardman Studios has created a film which consists of a wonderful (albeit feathered) cast, a funny and intelligent script, excellent cinematography and production design, plus great voice work. All of this must have taken alot of hard work and hours and it generally does pay off. There are some great voices and the use of both British and American accents is quite accurate. Overall a very enjoyable and funny animated film from Nick Park and co.

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A definite winner to watch with the whole family

In 2000 Dreamworks presented us with a film called "Chicken Run". It is a stimulating computer animation produced during 3 years of long hard work and that was, many often increased at the pace of a few second a day! The film was made using puppets of each character and adaptable faces for the different expressions. Each movement on the screen results from an intense computer work and of an unthinkable number of captions of the different positions the puppets were placed in. Also extremely important is the enormous work of the actors giving voice and soul to the characters. This achievement is, without a doubt, one of the strong points in this animation. The final product is a lively animation film that manages to put together fun entertainment and a positive message for (but not only) the young.The setting of the film was inspired by by some horrors of our recent past. It takes place in a chicken farm that is very similar to a Nazi concentration camp where the chickens, Mobilized by Ginger (Julia Sawalha), try to escape to the outside fields. Numerous plans are ill succeeded, from the classical tunnel escape to getting out disguised, all had been attempted. The cruel truth was, however, that everyday the chickens that could not lay any more eggs were brutally executed by Mrs. Tweedy (Miranda Richardson). All seemed lost until one day help comes from the sky in the form of kind, but blusterer, Rocky Rooster (Mel Gibson). This "rooster that knew how to fly" will, in a relaxed way, train the chicken, increasing his self esteem without really helping them out. We soon discover that his courage was far smaller than his mouth (or beak, in his particular case) and he ends up running away, afraid to be caught and taken back to the circus he had escaped from. However, the persistence of the chicken leads them to built, with the materials smuggled by two rats, a flying machine that will take them to the other side of the fence and to freedom. Before they go they must, however, save Ginger that fell into Mrs. Tweedy new acquisition to increase the farm's profit: a chicken pie making machine. This is a clear reminiscence of Sweeny Todd's famous human pies, a traditional London myth recently adapted to the big screen. The rescue is made by Rooster himself that not only saves Ginger but also demonstrates his true courage and love for her.The idea that life is difficult and full of obstacles but that these can be overcome with courage, determination and persistence and that liberty is the greater possession one can have is the main message that this film tries to transmit to the young ones and remind the grown ups.

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This really is a great film and I would really recommend it!

Chicken Run really is a wonderful film that I could not recommend more, everything about it is just excellent. I absolutely loved the story line and I felt it was just right given the title. The film itself is a children's film however, it is also very much a comedy and an adventure film at the same time. What I liked most about the film was the quality of the animation trouhgout. I really liked how imaginative the different scenes were and I really did find myself being entertained throughout.

Chicken Run is about a group of chickens who are stuck on a farm, they really want to be free and get away. They are constantly under a threat to produce enough eggs or it is death. An American Rooster joins the group and together they try multiple plans to get out of the farm. Will one of them eventually work and set them free? I really did love this film and found it gerat fun to watch throughout.

The film stars Phil Daniels and Lynn Ferguson as voice actors who really are just exceptional and they made the film a real pleasure to watch. There is also a wonderful soundtrack to the film that really does tie in perfectly with the story line. I really would recommend this film, I think there is something for everyone and is well worth a watch. You can get it for just under £4 from Amazon which really is an excellent price for a film that has been nominated for a Golden Globe! I hope this was useful and thank you very much for reading this.

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You may never eat chicken again

We'd heard so much about it, and there it was, on "pay-per-view" so hubby and I figured it was time - and settled down to watch. I don't know what I was expecting but this movie was EXCELLENT. The characterization, the animation, the claymation - absolutely brilliant. The characters all came to life - from the dumb chicken farmer whose wife continually puts him down, and who doubts what he sees because of her naggings and belittlings, to the pompous RAF training instructor type - can anyone believe a chicken could live 50 plus years? He, who in the end, has to admit that he was not a flyer, but a squadron mascot. And all of the other chickens - we laughed, we felt like crying at times at their futile attempts to escape. YOU MAY NEVER EAT CHICKEN AGAIN!The basic story centres on a chicken farm - as long as you lay your quota of eggs, you're ok. Fall below par and it's the chopping block for you! The chickens (led by Ginger - given voice by Julia Sawalha) plan various escapes, but somehow, their plans go awry. Enter an American rooster who happens to fly in - and feathers start to fly. The hens swoon, the old rooster gets his beak put out of joint for a while, there is even blackmail. They want him to teach them to fly.

Chicken aerobics is not something you see every day! And you won't want to miss this. Nor the two rats, your con artists cum get-you-anything-you-want-for-a-price merchants. And none too bright either, sometimes.Then, bad news. Nagging Farmer's Wife decides the future is in chicken pies, and the chickens have to bolster their efforts to escape. Will they succeed? Who ends up in the pie machine? Will true love conquer in the end?

This is a great movie, and great for kids of all ages - even those of us in our second or third childhoods. Everything about it is brilliant - Mel Gibson gave his voice to the American rooster - and all the voices suited the characters so well. So much work went into this and I think the behind the scenes people need to be congratulated.Definitely a go see, or rent on video!

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I personally loved this movie and watched it with my sister, whom also loved it.

Chicken run, a claymation in an industry based around real actors or 3d models. I've always loved the odd movie like this that has a unique feel to it with a good story to boot.

In this particular story we are taken to a farm filled with hens and a mean mean farmer with her assistant. Thin, slender, void of compassion, she runs the concentration camp that is this farm. The hens in the farm are to deliver eggs every day or become a pie to be sold later. A rather dark setting if you think about it.

Our protagonist believes that all they would need to do... is learn how to fly! That is of course, after failing to escape via any other means several dozens of times. Being accustomed to being thrown into isolation for days at a time, this was their final stand. They must fly, or accept their fate altogether.

But of course, hens don't fly, and nobody knows how.

One day a rooster who happens to have been sent flying flies over the farm and makes a wonderful landing straight into the hen pen. Realizing that this is rooster heaven he agrees to teach the hens how to fly... despite not being able to himself.

From there our story takes off as hen and rooster alike try to do the impossible and escape the inevitable.

The claymation was very smooth, the voice actors all without fault and skilled. Overall it was a movie worth watching. Not something i'd watch again mind you, but definitely worth it.

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A great family film filled with laughs.

Chicken Run is very funny with some great family moments that everyone can enjoy. The plot is very good with other terrific points.In the movie, a group of English and Scottish hens try to escape from a chicken farm owned by a couple of mean farmers. They all try to escape and you follow their journey out of the farm and into the world. The plot is very simple so everyone will be able to watch it and have fun. The animation is great and still looks fantastic after a couple of years. The attention to detail is very good and it is one of the best looking movies I have seen. The sound is fantastic and extremely clear. The film is very funny and you will laugh all the way through. The cast is terrific and their voices make it even more funny.The DVD extra are brilliant with some informative commentary and fantastic deleted scenes. The behind the scenes footage is also good with some great insight into how the film was made. Overall, the film is a great laugh and a must buy for that everyone will be able to watch, adults and children alike.

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i don't like gravy

This film is great it is one for the children and adults I really enjoyed it. It's a great animation with characters made of clay, it is a truly British film and is well worth the hour and 20 minutes to watch it. Created by the same creators as Wallace and Gromit its fantastic. It was released in 2000 and is still a film I watch again and again.

It is based on a farm in the 50's which has been made to look like a prison of war camp and it is run by Mr and Mrs Tweedy, two evil people who are expanding into making chicken pies, which is not good news for the chickens.

The chickens who include Ginger voiced by Julia Sawalha and Babs voice by Jane Horrocks when they realise what is going on try to think of a plan to escape their fate and move to a place where they can live in total freedom and decide that the have wings they need to fly to escape.

A rooster then turns up and with the help of Rocky rooster who is voiced by Mel Gibson who claims that he can fly, he tries to teach all the other chickens to fly knowing full well that it will never happen, they cannot fly and nor can he. Will they escape the pie who knows? I will not spoil the rest if it for you.

A great part of the film is where Rocky and Ginger narrowly escape the new pie machine test run, along with the great phrase " I don't want to be a pie, I don't like gravy" is a classic and is fun for all. With its light hearted houmour it is one to see.

This film is funny and will have you laughing from start to finish.

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buy the dvd now!

Chicken Run tells the humorous story of a band of chickens who seek escape from their coop before their owners, the hilarious oafish yet suspicious egg farmer Mr. Tweedy and his greedy, dominatrix wife, surprisingly named Mrs Tweedy,who wants to make them all into chicken pies. The film is a homage to the World War II prison films of the 1950s and 1960s (particularly The Great Escape), but it alludes to numerous other films, including Braveheart and the Indiana Jones films. Seen where ginger is trapped in a oven and her hat comes off and she just has time to pick it up before the oven closes (similar to Indiana Jones).

Chicken Run is brought to us by legendary animation creators Nick Park and Peter Lord of Preston. Showing how they can work beyond Wallace and Gromit, and they sure can!

The star roles in the film are those of Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha), a hen who has absolute faith that the chickens can fly out of the coop if only they train hard enough, and Rocky Rhodes (voiced by Mel Gibson), a rooster whom Ginger believes can fly, but who keeps the secret of his flightlessness from her for much of the film. Mrs. Tweedy (voiced by Miranda Richardson) is the nefarious, grasping farm wife whose exasperation at low profits from egg sales leads her to reinvent her farm as a chicken pie factory, while her husband does all he can to prevent the chickens from escaping.

This film makes fantastic watching and it fails to not make the audience laugh. Gullible chicken Babs is fantastic coming out with such cracking lines as..."i don't want to be a pie. i don't like gravy"

Mr & Mrs Tweedy also provide comic relief with a Jack and Vera style couple. Great moments between them in the film and i am smiling now as i type this! (sad I know)

There are also linkings to the real world. With a chicken who loses her head named Edwina after Edwina Curry (you may remember her having an affair with a certain Prime Minister- and No it wasn't Thatcher!) Curry gave a warning about salmonella in eggs causing the market to collapse and she was given the chop from her post. Edwina the chicken in the film also lost her head.

The soundtrack to the film is also spectacular with great songs that'll have you tapping your feet to.--Flip Flop Fly i don't care if i die.-Ohh i'm the kinda guy who likes to roll along..Great songs which make the film all the more enjoyable.

Chicken Run is just one of those films i love and will never tire of watching it! i urge you, if you have not already, to buy a copy of this film and watch it! 47 or 7 i am sure you will not be disappointed. By the end of the film you forget that they are chickens and view them as people. I only wish they would make a sequel but i know it would not be as good!Chicken Run is suitable for all children and all people of all ages. One of those films that kids can watch over and over again so worth buying the dvd.

Chicken Run what a bloody good film!

www.amazon.co.uk for best prices but film was made in 2000 so prices should be nice and low!

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As warming as a nice cup of tea on a cloudy day, Chicken Run is that charming singularity, a commercially successful British family movie that has near-universal appeal without compromising its inherent British pluckiness (that will be the first and last poultry-pun in this review). It invites us into the Plasticine-world of Tweedy's farm, a far-from-free-range egg factory ruled with an axe of iron by greedy Mrs.Tweedy. One intrepid chicken, Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha) sets her sights on breaking out the whole flock, a cast of beautifully individuated chicken characters including ditsy Babs (voiced by Jane Horrocks), matronly Bunty (Imelda Staunton) and practical-minded Mac (Lynn Ferguson). Each effort is thwarted, and Ginger repeatedly reaps a spell in the coal bunker for her troubles, prompting the first of many allusions to The Great Escape, one of several World War II films name-checked throughout. (Grown-ups will have a ball playing Spot-the-Allusion Game here.) When an American rooster named Rocky (Mel Gibson) literally drops in from the air, the hens are set all a-flutter with excitement thinking he'll help teach them to fly away at last. But Rocky is not all he seems. Although the action sags just a fraction around the 40-minute mark, it's the set pieces that really lift this into the realm of cartoon genius: the montage of inept flying attempts, Rocky and Ginger's narrow escape from Mrs Tweedy's new pie machine (an horrific contraption of chomping steel and industrial menace) and the magnificent, soaring climax. Despite the fact British animators (such as the directors, Nick Park and Peter Lord, themselves) regularly scoop Oscars for their short films, our record in full-feature length cartoons has been scrappy at best. There have been a few highlights--Animal Farm (1955), The Yellow Submarine (1968), Watership Down (1978)--and, er, that's about it really, unless you count The Magic Roundabout: Dougal and the Blue Cat. ChickenRun, made by the Aardman production house who produced the delightful Wallace and Gromit shorts among many other treats, has proved that Britain can compete with the most calculated, merchandised and screen-tested Disney production and win. --Leslie Felperin